MCQUADE NAMED CAA COACH OF THE YEAR; FIVE RAMS NAB ALL-CAA HONORS

Nov 05, 2010

PHILADELPHIA, PA. – Virginia Commonwealth University's Kelly McQuade was named the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association Field Hockey Coach of the Year Friday evening at the league's annual awards banquet. Additionally, five Rams earned All-CAA honors, including freshman Rymme van Dessel (Oisterwijk, Netherlands), who was named Rookie of the Year.

McQuade, in her fourth year at the helm of the VCU program, led a five-win improvement from last season. Behind her direction the Rams have forged a 13-6 record, the school's first winning mark since 2003, and earned a bid to the CAA Tournament for the first time in seven years. VCU's 13 victories are the second-most in school history.

It's just the second time VCU has picked up a Coach of the Year honor. Shelly Behrens was tapped in 2003. McQuade took over a 4-15 squad in 2007 and led the Rams to five victories in each of her first two seasons. VCU improved to 8-9 in 2009. The Rams were picked eighth in the 2010 CAA Preseason Poll.

Senior Marle van Dessel (Oisterwijk, Netherlands) and sophomore Kelsey Scherrer (Chesapeake, Va.) were selected to the All-CAA First Team. Both players were second team picks in 2009. They are the first Rams to earn a All-CAA First Team honors since Carlot Verlop in 2004.

Scherrer, an All-Rookie selection last season, has been VCU's sparkplug. The 5-1 forward has scored 14 goals and assisted on eight others this year. She has been credited with game-winning goals in seven of the Rams' 13 victories. Her 36 points are tied for third in the league.

van Dessel has supplied 11 goals and 26 points this year. Along the way she's moved into second place on VCU's career goals list with 36. This is the third straight year van Dessel has earned a spot on an All-CAA squad.

Rymme van Dessel, one of three van Dessel sisters on the VCU roster was selected as the Rams' first CAA Rookie of the Year since Verlop in 2004. van Dessel, the Rams' center back, has been critical to VCU's stout defensive effort. This season, with van Dessel leading the way, the Rams have posted five shutouts, tied for the league lead. VCU has allowed an average of 1.68 goals per game, second best in the CAA, and opponents have managed just 118 shots on goal in 19 matches.

Rymme, as well as sister Flore van Dessel, Marle's twin, were both named to the CAA's Second Team. Flore, a midfielder scored four goals and assisted on two others this year. She was 3-of-3 on penalty strokes, including her game-winner in overtime on Sept. 12 at Richmond.

Freshman Emilie Soares (Santa Clara, Calif.) joined Rymme van Dessel on the CAA's All-Rookie Team. Soares has scored six goals and has been credited with two assists this season.

The fourth-seeded Rams will take on top seed and host Drexel on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 12 p.m. in the CAA Championship semifinals at Buckley Field.